Aug 17, 2008 - 9:20 AM
0 shoutsBy Andrew Both PA SportsTicker Golf Writer
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (Ticker) - Carl Pettersson holds the lead heading into Sunday's final round of the $5.1 milionWyndham Championship.
Pettersson, who shot a spectacular 61 in the second round, could not quite back it up as he settled for a solid 4-under-par 66 on Saturday at Sedgefield.
"It was probably the worst score I could have shot," said the North Carolina-based Swede, who posted a 19-under 191 total, two strokes clear of Scott McCarron (64) with one round left.
Pettersson is six strokes clear of anyone else, with Briny Baird (62), Kevin Streelman (67) and Garrett Willis (69) tied for third at 13-under.
Pettersson, a two-time PGA Tour winner, began steadily with four consecutive pars, before making eagle at the par-5 fifth, where he struck an 8-iron to four feet.
His only blemish was at the other par-5, No. 15, where he three-putted from inside four feet, twice lipping-out.
McCarron, meanwhile, kept the heat on with a bogey-free round highlighted by a birdie at the par-4 18th, where he holed a difficult 45-foot bunker shot.
The 43-year-old Californian is on the comeback trail after missing the entire 2007 due to major elbow surgery.
Baird made the day's biggest move, shooting 62 despite bogeying the first hole.
He stormed home in 28 strokes, picking up seven birdies on the inward half, including at the final four holes.
With little wind, the pros again plundered the historic Donald Ross layout, averaging 68.5 strokes.
Pettersson and McCarron know they will have to keep attacking in the final round.
A Pettersson victory would lift him into serious consideration for the European Ryder Cup team, even though he has lived half his life in the United States.
